Inclosure for spliced ends of electric cables



June 1o. 1924.`

C. H. SANDERSON INCLOSURE FOR SPLICED ENDS 0F ELECTRIC CABLES Filed May 21. 1921 Patented June l0, 1924.

UNITED sT'rEs 1,497,002 PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE HERBERT SANDER/SON, OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF TO OHN P. STETSON,

ONE-RALF OIE* NEW YORK, N'. Y. f

INCLOSURE FOR SPLICEDENDS F ELECTRIC CABLES.

Application med may 2i,

provements in Inclosures for Spliced Ends of Electric Cables, of which the following is a specification.

1 This invention relates in general to joints l0 for lead pipes used in enveloping electric conductors and it especially appertainsjto clamp couplings for such conduits.

The main object of the invention vis to provide an improved solderless joint or coupling between the jacket that surrounds spliced ends or portions of an electric cable and the sheaths covering the latter.

Another object is to produce a couplin of the character described adapted to join l pliant tubular elements of different sizes, one coupling member serving to expand the end of the smaller element, while another member compresses the extremity of the lar er element.

l further object is the roduction of a coupling of the natureu set orth having cooperating clampin members associated with the tubular e ements joined thereby intermediately as wellas externally and interiorly of the same;

Still another object is the provision in a couplin tightly cgamping. the ends of differently sized tubular elements, independently of'one another, and without the use of interposed packin A stl further `object in producing a coupling of the class mentioned is so to arrange the members which exert the clamping pressure upon the ends of the tubular elements, that they shall be separate from the means for effecting such pressure.

An additional object is to furnish a coupling of the species referred to, including non-rotating clamping members actuated by rotatable rlneans. b A, 1

A su ementa o ject is to suppy a couplingpof the guus alluded to wherein the means for exerting pressure u on the vclamping membersz also serve to issipate electrostatic charges occurring between such members and the cable insulation in order to save the latter from injury. A general objlect is'to afford an improved coupling for t e purpose expressed, comof the type specified of means for' known parts of the cable splice and housingv 1921. Serial No. 471,415.

posed offew,`simple and durable parts, amenable to economical manufacture, readily assembled or taken apart, and which will effectively preclude water or moisture from reaching the cable splice.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, Wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the said drawing p Figure I is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showingv a cable splice in-' closure embodying the present invention; v Fig. II isa fragmentary sectional elevation lllustrating a modified structure of the inclosure;

Fig. III is a partial end viewllooking from the left side of Fig. II; and

Fig. IV is a similar view taken from the right-hand side of lthe same figure.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, upon becoming conversant with the details thereof, that the same may be incorporated in severaldiferent constructions. 'The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

`Referring now to the aforesaid views for a detailed description of the invention, the

therefore have been desi ated by referenceletters,of which A and'n B denote electric cables .or 'conductors res ectively covered with insulation, as C-and) D, sheathed in turn by thin glianttubular elements or lead pi es E and The wires constituting vthe p cables A and B are joined by-a splice G in the customary manner, for example, by

uniting the corresponding wires of' the Cable ends, g 11o H designates another pliant tubular element which may be a lead jacket of larger diameterthan the conduits E, F, and is adapted to bridge the space between the adjacent terminals of the latter for the purpose. of surrounding and concealing the s lice G, while remaining out of contact on a l sides thereof.

rllhe said jacket -H is preferably formed in its top side with a pair of bosses K struck tip from the wall thereof and spaced apart as' shown in Fig. I. Pipe plugs J are screwed into threaded .openings provided therefor, in these bosses. After the splice is completed and the jacket has been secured in position, the plugs J may be removed to vpermit of pouring an insulating compound into the interior of the former. This Y* compound is supplied thru the opening in one of the bosses, while the air is allowed v to escape during the filling operation by way f of the other opening.

A jack constructed as described, has in prior practice been secured to the lead sheaths E and F, by wiping soldered joints A at the opposite ends thereof. But in carrying out the present invention, such expedients are discarded and the jacket is detachably retained in position to provide impervious coupling means by the device next to be referred to.

In securing the jacket to the cable sheaths, either end o f the former is held to the respective' sheath in the same manner, and accordinly for the sake of brevity, the detailed escription ofthe method followed in kee ing one end of the jacket element in position to the adjacent sheath element, will apply equally as well to both ends ofthese elements.

When one end of the lead pipe E is to be. attached to the proximate extremity of the said jacket element H, an intermediate coupling member or sleeve 5 is employed,

which as represented in Fig. I of the draw-l ing, is' substantially 'bowl-shaped in cross section. One part 6 of this sleeve 'is contracted to closely fit `over the outside' of the said element E near the adjoinin terminal thereof, while. another portion g of the said sleeve member which is enlarged. is adapted to enter inside the adjacent end -of the jacket H.

The .interior ofthe sleeve 5 -between the part 6 and the portion )7, is internally belled or ared as at 9, -from the contracted towards theenlarged end thereof. The said Haring intermediate portion 9 leads into the base of an internal beading 1 0 which serves as a retaining ledge, the purpose whereof will be more fully vhereinafter referred to. Directly 'adjacent to the bead 10, the said enlarged portion of the sleeve member is provi ed with a smooth cylindrical bore 12, beyond which the former is internally threaded as at 13, for the remainder` of the distanceA to the inner extremity thereof.

The' lead sheath E, which is removed a few A inches back from the insulation C beyond the splice G, is subsequently expanded thru the employment of a suitable implement so as to iill up and partake of the interior configuration of the convex bellmouth 9 and the thereto appertaining beading 10. j

An annularcompression member or follower 15 of appropriate internal diameter to be slipped over the outside of the insulation envelop C, is entered into the bore 12 of the coupling sleeve. This compression member is adapted to cooperate with the belled surface 9 and interior bead 1,0 of the sleeve 5, and accordingly the juxtaposed faces of the said follower is of corresponding con-l figuration. That is to say, the external sur-v S5 face. of the follower 15 is formed with a circumferential flute ,17 supplementary to the beading 10, and has a simllar sweep 18 complementary t0. the convex flare 9. 1n a like manner, the outer periphery of this follower is given the shape of acylindrical rim 19 correlated to the bore 12, and adapted to cooperate therewith in order to guide the lfollower 15, prevent its jamming and consequent digging of the latters relatively 15 sharp' inner edge 2O into the envelop C of the cable. By the construction above set*- forth, the sleeve and its follower are capable collectively of irmly grip ing the expanded end ,of the conduit E an clamp the. same 1111 rigidly to the first mentioned member. Due to the. squeezing of the edge of the lead sheath E between` the beading 10 and the ute 17 of the follower, not only increases the tightness of the joint, but also makes it 135 impossible for the sheath to become de-V tached from the sleeve member..

The means for actuating or applying pressure upon the inner end of the follower 15 is represented as consisting of a shell-like bushing 21 which has an externally threaded portion 22 arranged for screwing into the interior threads 13 of the sleeve member 5. The inner extremity of the bushing 21 whichV tapers in a direction away from the threaded portion 22 thereof, as at 23, may be conveniently formed Icylindrical on the outside, and provided with an'inner flared polygonal face, `indicated at 24. The purpose of. the latter is to increase the internal surface of 13 the tapered part 23 and thereby vmore readily carry off such electrostatic currents as may leak thru the insulating covering of the cable. In order that the shell 21 which in' reality` constitutes a nut, may be screwed tightly into the threaded portion of the sleeve 5 to force the follower to la seat, the after end of the said shell-like nut is provided with notches 25 for the reception. of a` suitable spanneror wrench, During the duit sheath.

tightening operation sufficient pressure may be exerted upon the follower to press the leaden conduit into immediate contact with the cooperating parts and effect a joint' which will be im ervious to moisture.

An important feature of this invention resides in the fact that when securing the coupling members and the conduit one relatively to the other, all parts which directly engage the latter are free from rotative movement, the only rotating part being the nut 21. In practice, the' external surface of the reduced part 6 of thev coupling sleeve 5 may be formed. polygonal, -as shown at 26, so that the same may be gripped with a wrench at this point to preclude it from turning while the shell nut 21 is being screwed up to force the follower 15 into the spread end of the sheath or conduit E. Thus it will be seenv that the non-rotatable parts are simply forced together to clamp the walls of the conduit therebetween; Consequently there is no liability to disrupt the clamping surfaces of the pliant sheath, the same as is the case when a hard metallic part is rotated against a soft metal such as lead, which is apt to become torn or cut, rendering it impossible to secure a tight seal or joint. However, in the present invention these diculties are overcome since there are no rotatable parts to engage with the con- The outside of the after end of the part 7 of the coupling member 5 has a cylindrical contour 27 of a diameter to fit the inside of the jacket H. 'Ihe said cylindrical part 27 extends for a short distance from the inner end of the sleeve member 5 and is conjoined by a convexly curved surface 28 which terminates at the base of a circumambient bead 29, for a purpose corresponding to the beforenamed beading 10. In direct proximity to the saidbead 29, the sleeve 5 is formed with a smooth cylindrical portion 30 intermediate of which and the before mentioned polygonal outer end 26, the said sleeve is exteriorly provided with screw threads 32.

With the said threaded portion 32 is adapted to engage. internal screw threads 33 provided in an annular clamping nut 34. The latter acts against a follower or compression member 35, the interior Vof which 1s supplementary to the external portion of the coupling sleeve 5 embraced thereby. That is, the follower is furnished with a concave recess 36 of similar contour to the convex surface 28, and adjoining the former is an annular flute 37 shaped to correspond withthe beading 29, being further lrovided with a bore 38 complementary to t e cylindrical surface 30.

In order to enable the follower 35 to properly o erate upon the adjacentend of the jacket Il, thelatter is beatinwardly so as to substantialIy conform to the shape of the convex surface 28 and adjoining bead 29. The vsaid follower is thereupon slid with. its bore 38 riding on the cylindrical portion 30 of the sleeve member 5, until the concaved recess 36 in the follower takes over thc end of the jacket thus formed. The clamping nut 34 is then screwed upon the threads 32 and may be tightened by means of a wrench applied to the polygonal sides of the former, being brought to forcibly bear upon the followerI which thereby tightly compresses and. grips the end of the said jacket H.`

The structural elements of the present invention have been set forth in detail hereinabove, and the manner inV which the same is applied in practice will now be described.

On each terminal of the cables, aset of members 5, 34 and 35 is slipped along the former back a certain amount so as to locate them out of the way of subsequent operations. The jacket H is also placed over one cable end and slid upon the latter for any appropriate distance. The lead sheaths or conduits E and F are next cut back a few After this has been done, the coupling sleeves are drawn toward one another so as to engage the outside of the conduits ared portions. The followers 15 are then entered into the larger ends 7 of the sleeve members 5 and lodged against the inside of the tiared faces of the conduits. The clamp-bushings l21 are next screwed up against the followers to cause the latter to tightly grip the conduits within their respective coupling members as before described.

This having been accomplished, the insulations C and I) are cut away adjacent the terminals of the cables which are thereupon brought into alignment, so that the corresponding strands or wires thereof ma be spliced together. After the splice has een completed, the same is wound with adhesive tape or other suitable insulating material.

The lead jacket H is now moved longitudinally of the cable from the place which it has up to this time occupied, into a position wherein it will bridge the splice G, with its opposite ends embracing the coupling members pertaining to the respective cables. The jacket is then cut to appropriate length and its opposite extremities made to conformv to the curvatures of the surfaces28 and 29 on the exteriors of both of the coupling members 5.

` The external followers are next moved toscrewed up sufficiently tight against the followers so as to effect a tight joint between vthe parts in the same manner as was produced with reference to the internal followers 15. At the conclusion of these operations, the jacket will have been securely as well as detaehably mounted in position to surround and conceal the splice and provide a covering or housing therefor which will be impervious to moisture. Y

The screw plugs .I are now removed and a suitable insulating medium, in fused state,

is poured thru the opening in one of the bosses K, while the displaced air within the jacket is allowed tro find exit by way of the hole in the other boss. After the jacket has been ioodcdor filled, the plugs I are rcturned to position-and the assembly is complete. v

It w1ll be apparent from the foregoing de- I scription, that the present invention may be economically applied to a cable splice even when worklng 1n close quarters, such for example, as in manholes, trenches, openground work where weight does not havel employed without necessitating the use of fires or blow torches for the melting of lead required in the wiping 'of joints as heretofore. This is of particular value when operating in walls of buildings .or in'manholes. In the former case, the torch is apt to set the building aiire, while in the latter instance, fires in manholes and even carrying of hot ladles with. molten lead, not infrequently cause the ignition of inflammable gases which accumulate in the manhole due to leaky gas mains or for other reasons well known to those skilled inthe art. In applying the construction under consideration, no hea whatsoever is needed and consequently the danger of fire is eliminated.

In FigsII, III, and IV a modified construction of a clamp joint embodying the invention is illustrated. In these views a coupling member 5a is formed with serrated convexly curved internal and exterior vsheath and jacket engaging surfaces 9a and 28 respectively. In this structure, clamping members 15a and 35i which coact interiorly and externally with'the said coupling member 5a, correspond to the similar followers 15 and 35 in Fig. I. But, instead of being seated by a clamping bushing or like nut, they are forced against the expanded or contracted extremities of the sheath El or jacket H1, by screw bolts 22 and 32a respectively. The latter are threaded into tapped holes 41 extending in an axially parallel direction longitudinally thru the coupling member 5a.

The heads of the screws 22a bear on a ledge or flange 42 formed coaxially with the follower member 15 and received within a bore 12a with which the inner end of the coupling member 5a is provided. The outer compression member 35a is furnished with a series of recesses or pockets 43 adapted to receive the hea-ds of the bolts 32,

It will be noted that in this modification' of the invention, tightening of the screws 22LL and 32a will clamp the proximate eX- tremities of the pliant elements E1 and H1 between the convex portions 9a and 28a of the coupling member 5a and those of the corresponding and coacting surfaces 18B and 3Ga of the follower members 15a and 35l respectively, without any wearing or dragging effect upon the expanded or contracted ends of the tubular lead elements. In orderto secure a more positive gripping action in the construction disclosed by the last three figures of the drawing, the curved enga ing surfaces of the coacting clamping mem ers may be circumferentially serrated after the manner indicated in Fig. II. When this is done, the serrations of such faces will be caused to bite into the lead sheath and jacket and positively anchor these parts.

In this case, the means 23a for conducting away electro-static charges occurring at the point of contact of the clamping member 15 with the insulating envelop C1, may be made integral with the former instead of being an adjunct to the follower actuating element.

While certain preferred embodiments of this device have been shown and described,

it will be understood that changes in the I form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, withoiit departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.-

Having described my invention what I det .sire to secure by Letters Patent and claim,

1. A device for connecting differently sized pliant tubular elements, embodying a coupling member adapted to embrace the smaller element and to be embracedby the larger element, non-rotatable clamping members acting directly against said elements to force them into tight contact with said coupling member, and rotatory means independent of the elements capable of applying pressure upon said clamping members, whereby the said elements are respectively secured to the coupling member without being engaged by relatively rotating parts.

their respective elements, whereby the latter Aare clamped. to the tubular member without either of them being-brought into engagement with relatively rotating parts.

8. A device for connecting differently sized pliant tubular elements, embodying a sleeve adapted to embrace one end-of the smaller element and -to be embraced by the extremity of the larger element, a non-rotatable follower entered -into the interior f Iof said smaller element to hold it to the inside of said sleeve, another non-rotatable follower taking over the exterior of said larger velement to force the same into gripping relation with the outside of the sleeve, and rotary means independent of both said elementsand said followers capable of impelling the latter" against the former, whereby the said elements are clamped to the sleeve without being engaged by relatively rotating parts.

. 4f. A device for securing a jacket covering a splice between the terminals of electric cables to the conduits thereof, including a sleeve constructed to take over the end of one of the conduits and to enter one extremity of the jacket, an axially movable yfollower lodged against the inside of said end of the conduit adapted to expand it within said,- sleeve, another similarly arranged follower embracing said extremity of the j-acket 'capable of forcing the .same upon the outside o-f the sleeve, and rotatable members independent of both `of said conduit and said jacket having threaded connection with the sleeve and serving to wce impel said followersA against'their respective conduit and jacket, whereby the two latter -are clamped to the sleeve without engagement by relatively rotating parts. l

5. A device for securing a. splice enclosing jacket to the conduit terminals of electric cables, including a sleeve member provided interiorly and externally with convex shaped surfaces, and means yfor forcing the side portions adjacent one extremity each of said jacket and. said conduit into tight engagement with said external and-interior surfaces respectively.

6. A device for securing a splice-jacket to the terminals of cable conduits, including atubular member formed with an internal substantially bell-shaped surface capable-of receiving the end of lone of the conduits, said member being provided exteriorly with an approximately bell-like portion adapted to be embraced by one extremity of the jacket, means for expanding said end of the conduit into tight engagement with said internal surface, and other vmeans for contracting said extremity of the jacket to fit closely upon said exterior portion.

7. A device for coupling pliant tubular elements of different diameters, including a Sleevekmember provided internally and exteriorly with belled portions having adjoining abutments, followers formed complementary to said portions and said abutments adapted to bear upon the inside and the outside ends of said elements, and means independent of said followers for forcing them in gripping relation with said ends of the elements against the corresponding parts of said sleeve.

8. A device for coupling a larger pliant tubularelement to one of smaller diameter, including a sleeve intervening the extremities of said elements and provided on the inside and outside thereof with belled portions having cntiguous ledges, the interior ledge adjoining the larger end of the corresponding belled portion, while the external ledge is adjacent the smaller end of the portion thereto appertaining, a follower formed in accordance with the internal configuration of said sleeve adapted to expand the smaller element thereinto, means for impelling said follower against the inside 100 belled portion to tightly grip the extremity of said smaller element therebetween, another `follower shaped conformably to the external contour of the sleeve capable of contracting the larger element thereover,

and other means for forcing the latter named followertowards the outside belled portion to securely clamp the extremity of said, larger element between the last-named parts.

9. A device for securing a splice Kenclosing jacket to the terminals of cable conduits, including a sleeve having opposite qportions thereof arranged to take around and enter one extremity each of said conduit and said jacket, said sleeve being provided internally and exteriorl with surfaces yadapted to receive the en s of the last named elements, followers formed with complemental surfaces bearing interiorly and externally upon said ends, actuating members connected with the sleeve capable of forcing said followers into gripping relation with the said ends of the conduit and jacket against said first named surfaces, and means extending inwardly of the jacket serving to dissipate electro-static charges occurring between the members of the coupling and the covering of the cable.

l0. A device for connecting `a larger pliant tubular element to one of smaller di- K ameter, including a cou ling member having its opposite .endsem raced by and embracing the'larger and' smaller elements respectively, a folloWei` bearing upon the interior end of said smaller element adapted to expand the same against the inside of said coupling member, an annular member internally engaging the latter capable of actuating said follower, and means for anchoring the extremity of said larger element to lthe coupling member on the outside thereof.

11. A device for connecting a smaller pliant tubular element to one of larger size, including a coupling member formed to receive and to enter the ends of said smaller and larger elements respectively, a follower bearing externally upon the extremity ofthe last named element capable of contracting resaca@ the same over the outside of said coupling member, an annular member exteriorly engaging the latter adapted to actuate Said follower, and means for anchoring the terminal of the smaller element WithinA said coupling member.

12. A device for connecting differently sized pliant tubular elements, including a coupling member embracing and embraced by the smaller and larger'ends of said-elements respectively, said member being providedinteriorly and externally With oppositely disposed portions, followers complementar-y to the latter adapted to clamp the extremities of said elements to their respective portions, and an actuating member for each of said followers capable of applying pressure thereon.

' CLARENCE HERBERT SANDERSON. 

